With so many ancestors being linked to the mining industry I wanted to know what sort of jobs they did. The following table is a “non exclusive” list of jobs undertaken in the coalfield. I have tried to get the meanings from the 1850’s to 1920’sIf there is any historical inaccuracy, or I have the definition just plain wrong, then please e-mail me with the correct details. I have started with jobs I know that people I am researching have done and may expand it from there.

Job

Definition

Accredited Agent

a person designated in accordance with the provisions of section 121 of the Minerals Act as the accredited agent for the holder of a mining licence or a mining claim

Bank

in relation to a shaft means the station situated on the surface

Banksman

A competent person duly authorized to supervise the lowering and raising of persons, material or rock in a conveyance at the bank and to give the necessary signals.Also referred to as a bank manager or browman

Buttie

Work mate

Catch Knocker

Operating cages at pit bottom or intermediate landings

Coal Inspector

Supervising the filling of coal to avoid unnecessary dirt being fined with the coal

Coal Stower

Loading hand picked coal into wagons by hand

Collier

Getting and filling coal on to conveyor or into trams; setting necessary supports, on either machine cut or hand got faces; hewing coal by hand got methods; engaged on stall work and responsible for taking forward rippings, etc., carrying out any operation in connection with a mechanized heading or long-wall face; hewing coal with pneumatic picks; driving a close place or opening out on pick work in coal; developing headings in coal; preparatory to opening out stalls; filling coal into trams in hand filled and drawn system; filling coal on the face.

Conveyor Loader

Loading coal delivered by conveyors into drams at loading points

Dram

A Tram or truck to carry coal

Duff

Fine small coal

Engine Man

Operator of the Haulage Engine

Hewer

Like Collier - someone who worked at the coalface

Haulier

Person in charge of a Pit Pony

Holing out

The collier would dig a narrow channel into the bottom of the coal seam, in order to release the coal above, sometimes referred to as "cutting his legs off".

Journey

Usually about 25 drams hitched together with shackles, hauled in and out from the pit bottom by an endless or main and tail steel rope.